KOCHI: As part of measures to enhance passenger
safety, Cochin International Airport is all set to introduce a high-end robotic
security system capable of remote handling of explosive devices and fire
fighting and hijack situations among others.

The system, costing around Rs 12 crore, would be
introduced next month, making the airport the first among the southern states
to have such a facility, a CIAL press release said Sunday. It comprises safety
robots developed by Canada-based Pedsco Ltd and threat containment vessel (TCV)
and sophisticated luggage containment vehicle (both developed by Nabco, USA).

These equipment have already reached the airport and
were in calibration phase, it said. The robot - Remote Mobile Investigator
(RMI-9WT) - is the front-runner in the robot family and was used in the West
and Americas by Police, fire departments, military and nuclear and industrial
institutions.

RMI-9WT is a light-weight, battery operated
multi-purpose vehicle that has proven to be ideal for the remote handling of
improvised explosive devices (IEDs), hazardous chemicals, radioactive
materials, fire fighting, hostage, hijacking and other hazardous situations.

The TCV, capable of handling the suspected luggage and
contain a blast of minimum eight KG of TNT or equivalent quantity of explosive,
is the main equipment of the high-end security system.

The container was reusable in the sense that it
withstands repeated detonations. If the suspected luggage was less, the small
version of TCV (Sophisticated luggage containment vessel) would be deployed.

CIAL Managing Director VJ Kurian said the robotic
system was part of CIAL'S commitment to the passengers to ensure flawless
safety and security. “...It represents the leading edge of airport safety. We
always support the advancement of technology especially in safety issues,” he
said.

The high end technology would be deployed at the
airport with the help of an integrated team having representatives of Central
Industrial Security Force (CISF), CIAL's own security wing and fire and rescue
force the ARFF, the release added.